Tech of the Month October: New Roval Rapide CL II and HED Jet 180 wheels, recent Turbo tyres from Specialised, Out of doors Vs Indoor winter coaching and Issue’s Ostro Gravel bike
This month we ponder is winter coaching over as we as soon as knew it? Given the enhancements to indoor coaching tech, from the turbo trainers to the digital apps, is there any longer a purpose to get chilly and moist as you log your winter miles? Let’s simply say opinions are divided!
We focus on the launches of Roval extra reasonably priced Rapide CL II wheels and Specialised’s vary of S-Works tyres in addition to have a look at the potential virtues of HED’s Kona Ironman-specific Jet 180 wheel.
Lastly our Bike of the Month is Issue’s OSTRO gravel, which is a light-weight, race-ready machine that we put by means of its paces in a current gravel occasion.
There’s a whole lot of thrilling tech and speaking factors to get pleasure from. However first learn on for the highlights.
Competitors
For this month’s Garmin Giveaway, we’ve obtained the Garmin Varia RCT715. It homes a 1080p digicam and shoots at 30fps so that you’ll you should definitely catch any shut passes and registration plates when you’re out on the highway.
It additionally options Computerized Incident Seize that ensures it continues recording “earlier than, throughout, and after” an accident.
It may be managed by way of the Varia app and photographs can be beamed to it as properly making it simple to switch to a pc do you have to need to. That is all alongside the advantages of the radar system which helps you to find out about visitors developing from the rear.
To be in with an opportunity of successful, merely click on this link (opens in new tab) or fill within the type beneath. We’ll get involved with the fortunate winner by the tip of this month. In the event you don’t find yourself being the fortunate one – don’t fear, we’ll be working it once more subsequent month.
Roval Rapide CL II wheels
(Picture credit score: Roval )
Provided that the Roval Rapide CLX II wheels have been launched simply 4 months in the past, the launch of the Rapide CL II is much less an instance of trickle down know-how and extra a case of a fast deluge.
The much more reasonably priced CL IIs boast the identical rim profile, sustaining the 21mm interior rim width, the 51/60 entrance/rear rim depth and the 35/30 entrance/rear outer rim width. So how has Roval managed to shave off £1000 off the worth of the CL IIs in comparison with the CLX IIs?
The fee saving is to be present in each the hubs and the spokes. The DT Swiss EXP hubs with ceramic bearings are swapped out for the Swiss model’s extremely dependable 350 hub, whereas the DT Swiss Aerolite spokes are exchanged for straightpull DT Swiss Competitors Race spokes. Maybe surprisingly, the burden penalty is minor, making the Rapide CL IIs simply 70g heavier.
Given the appreciable value distinction and each the tried-and-tested reliability and serviceability of the DT Swiss 350 hubs, the CL IIs look properly positioned to achieve a a lot wider viewers than their flashier sibling.
HED Jet 180 wheels
(Picture credit score: HED)
There are deep part wheels after which there’s HED’s Jet 180. It’s the deepest rim we’ve ever seen and primarily resembles an aerodynamic doughnut, with the 180mm depth leaving solely a small gap and little room for the hub and a few stunted spokes.
Why not simply use a rear disc wheel chances are you’ll ask? On the Ironman World Championships in Kona, full disc wheels aren’t allowed, so HED have created the Jet 180 as a loophole of types. It actually makes the product a distinct segment one and whereas it will likely be supplied for basic sale actually it was designed for the advantage of just a few HED-sponsored riders who compete on the Kona occasion.
HED engineers say it is the quickest non-disc wheel it is made, some 5-8 watts higher than its subsequent deepest wheel. Regardless of the outlet it’s truly heavier than the model’s Vanquish RCD disc wheel however in an enviornment the place aerodynamics trump weight that is possible of little concern for potential consumers.
Specialised S-Works Turbo tyres
(Picture credit score: Specialised)
Specialised’s new line-up of S-Works Turbo tyres have already obtained loads of consideration thanks to a couple important skilled wins, most notably Remco Evenepoel’s maiden grand tour victory at this 12 months’s Vuelta.
The Turbo vary consists of 4 tyres – the Professional T5, the SW, the SW 2BR and the SW Rapidair – with costs looking at £35 for the Professional T5 and going up in increments of £10, ultimately reaching £65 for the top-tier SW Rapidair 2BR.
So what’s new? In step with trendy wheel traits, the brand new Turbo tyres are suitable with hookless rims, due to a Zylon strengthened bead. Additionally they use a revamped compound, certainly compounds, throughout the vary. Two are used on every tyre, with the T2 compound working down the centre and the T5 on the shoulders; the previous is designed to decrease rolling resistance whereas the latter is there to enhance grip.
Out of doors vs Indoor Winter coaching
(Picture credit score: Future)
Unquestionably indoor coaching has improved significantly in current instances. Noisy, unstable turbo trainers have been changed with good direct-drive trainers which might be quiet, environment friendly and join seamlessly to a spread of third-party apps that mean you can prepare and race in a digital world.
With winter quickly arriving we ask whether or not these enhancements, coupled with maintaining out of the moist and the chilly, avoiding visitors, and never having to decorate up like your heading for a spot of snowboarding within the Alps, might sound the death knell for winter training as we once knew it?
Sometimes, when the clocks went again, your fancy summer time bikes have been cleaned and put away till spring. Of their place got here the winter bike. A dependable outdated buddy, typically made from metal, it was geared up for the climate, mudguards all the time on, and normally consisted of a mixture of elements taken out of your ‘good’ bikes of outdated. It was a motorbike for regular miles, which because the saying goes, would then make for summer time smiles.
However for some, maybe these of a youthful technology, this custom is much less identified, so much less noticed. Why hassle getting chilly and moist when you may prepare effectively indoors, whereas nonetheless ‘assembly’ your driving mates within the digital world? Like we mentioned, maybe it’s a generational factor.
If the CW crew is something to go by, the decision is inconclusive. Whereas indoor coaching has apparent advantages through the colder months, the feeling of driving outside in a spread of circumstances hardens the reserves and might typically elevate the spirits too.
Issue OSTRO Gravel
(Picture credit score: Stefan Abram)
Our bike of the month for October is Issue’s Ostro Gravel. We have been fortunate sufficient to have one to make use of through the British Gravel Championships, though a puncture put paid to any podium bid.
You’ll be capable to learn extra about Stefan’s experience, and his ideas on the bike, in his review, however the sub-8kg Ostro Gravel is actually an intriguing proposition. Gravel bikes designed primarily with racing in thoughts are the newest sub-set within the ever-growing gravel bike sphere.
The Issue takes cues from the Ostro VAM highway bike, utilizing kammtail tube shapes and an built-in cockpit to enhance its aerodynamics. It’s additionally designed to work with a spread of tyre widths, together with narrower slicks, seemingly giving it a little bit of ‘one bike to beat all of them’ attraction.
Source link